25 Cruise Add-On Mistakes Passengers Tend To Make

25. Chef’s Table Dinner

One can have a memorable night at the chef’s table, but do not assume it will be the finest meal you have on board. It is an expensive and social affair that can drag on into a long evening with courses you would not put on your order otherwise.

Consider the company as much as what is on the menu. For a couple seeking a quiet dinner, being put at a chef’s table with strangers is more of an event than a pleasure.

24. Reserved Pool Deck Seating

Booking a cabana or reserved lounger has the appeal of sparing you the hunt for a chair. But on a ship where there are ample places to pass the day, it also puts you in one spot.

Make sure to look at the location before parting with money. A shaded spot by a busy walkway or in the wind is not the same as what the sales photo would have you believe.

23. The Bigger Balcony Upsell

An upgrade to a more spacious balcony seems like something you will make use of all the time. In practice, the heat or the schedule, or perhaps smokers next door, will reduce it to a twelve-minute stop for your coffee.

Only put down the cash if the balcony is going to be part of your routine. A larger patch of outdoor space does not in itself make for a better cruise.

22. The Cabin Celebration Package

Cabin gifts are photogenic, particularly when the door is opened to reveal some decoration. Yet the appeal is short-lived if the package is little more than a few balloons, a modest cake and things one would not purchase for the home.

For a special occasion, weigh the package against a personal surprise. There is value in a handwritten card that an overpriced banner cannot match.

21. Premium Dessert Shops

Premium desserts seem like an innocent way to mark a small vacation moment. The issue is putting down extra for food when the ship is already stocked with what is included.

Sample the complimentary offerings. If the gelato or cupcake still seems worth having on the third day, then buy it because you want to, not because the display case was persuasive.

20. Bottled Water Packages

Water packages appear to be the sensible thing to do ahead of a warm itinerary, and they are not always a bad idea. But it is simple to overdo it.

See if a refillable bottle or loyalty perk will do. You do not need a cabin full of plastic bottles to call it a luxury, especially when half will be left behind.

19. Paid Fitness Classes

Those who appreciate structure may find the spin or bootcamp classes worthwhile. Others are disappointed when they have bought into a fantasy of discipline for their holiday.

Give the free gym a try first. If after a sea day you are still in the mood for the class, then it is a choice made in good faith rather than hope.

18. Arcade and Game Credits

Families will see the sense in arcade credits until the card is run through in a blur of claw machines and racing games. It is easy to lose track of the spending since no actual cash changes hands.

Put a number on it from the start. Children are better with limits that are not made up in the middle of a scene.

17. Art Auction Perks

With the paddles and free drinks, the auction has an air of exclusivity about it. But most people did not come on board in need of new wall art.

Enjoy the theatre of it if you like. Just be wary of a free afternoon devolving into shipping fees and an explanation you will have to give at home.

16. Late-Night Snack Deliveries

A room snack can be a nice way to end the evening, though sometimes it is lukewarm and less tempting than the free late options you walked past.

Before ordering, know what is included. The magic is gone from a paid tray when you realise the better snack was two decks away.

15. The Unlimited Drink Package

The drink package is a relief in that it takes the decision out of every order. This is only true if the package figures align with how you normally spend a vacation.

Do the math on the full cost: factor in port days, specialty coffees, bottled water, gratuities and the days you are not drinking as much to see if the value is there. There is little value in a package unless it is in line with how one truly spends the day at sea.

14. Premium Wi-Fi for Every Device

You might think premium Wi-Fi is as normal as life on land, but ship internet is subject to the route, the weather and what you are attempting to do. Crowds can be a factor too. Put more money down and video calls will not necessarily run any smoother.

It is wiser to get the plan that covers your actual requirements. There is a world of difference between a quick daily check-in and working from two devices while a teenager streams from the bunk.

13. Specialty Dining for Too Many Nights

Some of the finest meals on a cruise are to be had at the specialty restaurants. The error is to book them all and leave the buffet, dining room and port options untried.

A better approach: put in a reservation for a night or two and see if the standard fare disappoints before adding more onboard. In that way the upgrade remains an occasion rather than just another item on the schedule.

12. The Photo Package

The photographers are about for a reason. Between formal night and the gangway they produce a steady supply of near-perfect shots. A package is convenient compared to picking prints individually, yet many put them away when they get home.

If standing in the hallway for a pose is not your thing, forgo the bundle and put your money on the single photo that captures the trip.

11. Priority Boarding

Priority boarding has its appeal on embarkation day, particularly with an early window and a busy terminal where it puts you in a different line.

But it will not make up for a late flight or some confusion with luggage. Do not buy your way around the issue; stick to the basics if the day is a concern.

10. The Spa Pass

In a picture the thermal suite pass looks like a tranquil affair, though no one is photographing it when every heated lounger is occupied. On certain ships it is a retreat, on others just another crowded space.

Make sure you know what you are paying for. A pass that comes with a proper thermal pool and quiet hours is not the same as shelling out for a room with a view and some tiled chairs.

9. The Shore Excursion Bundle

When the ports are new to you, bundling excursions seems like a tidy solution. Then again, it can mean each day is reduced to a bus and a badge and someone else calling the time.

Some destinations are fine for a taxi or a slow walk off the pier. Have a look at shore excursion mistakes before you commit to the whole package.

8. Room Service Packages

Room service has a luxury to it until the tray is lukewarm and you are trying to fit plates on a small balcony table in a cramped cabin.

Save it for an easy coffee in the morning or to put in some time after dealing with things to double-check pre-cruise checks. It is not a replacement for a good meal.

7. Behind-the-Scenes Tours

Tours of the bridge or galley are fascinating for those with an interest in how the ship is run. They lose their magic if you have purchased them for the exclusivity and would rather be by the pool.

Ask yourself if you would still want to go if no one knew and there were no photos to show for it. If so, it is worth considering once you have compared it to the rest of cruise ship rookie mistakes.

6. Casino Credits

There is something dangerous about casino credits making you feel like the spending is already done. Once it is a card balance the money does not seem so real.

Put a hard limit on it before you board. Otherwise the budget for the cruise becomes a jumble of tips, drinks, shopping and Caribbean booking mistakes.

5. Laundry Packages

On an Alaska run or a long sailing where you are short on luggage space, a laundry package makes sense. Not so much on a brief warm-weather trip where a few casual shirts and swimsuits will do.

Do not pay for laundry because you overpacked; plan it well and coordinate with carry-on mistakes before an international flight.

4. The Soda Package

When set against the cost of the cruise, the soda package is a no brainer for some. But it is only worth it if one is in the habit of having a soda every day.

With children, it is worth looking at where the package is valid and if each cabin member requires one. If the family will be on free cruise activities a good deal, a couple of fountain drinks will come to less than an automatic charge.

3. Reserved Theater Seating

There is something about reserved seating that adds to the fantasy of the cruise experience. Yet put aside the premium price and you will find plenty of fine spots at most of the included shows by putting in a few minutes early.

Unless mobility is an issue or the ship has a reputation for full houses, there is little point in paying for the convenience. Put on a sweater and get there in time with your money in your pocket; you can put it to better use on things not provided free of charge.

Older passengers might put a higher value on the ease of it all than the younger ones, but for the rest, older travelers making big-trip checks early is an option.

2. Souvenir Cups and Tasting Flights

You may think nothing of a souvenir cup in the moment, but it makes for an oddity in your suitcase afterwards. Tasting flights are much the same, with the small glasses being more of a draw than what is in them.

The question to ask is whether you would part with the cash for it in a bar back home. If not, then do not be fooled by the ocean view into making the purchase.

1. The Upgrade You Buy Because Everyone Else Did

One need only follow another’s lead to overdo it on a cruise. What is a sound investment for one person in terms of a balcony, Wi-Fi, spa or excursions is pure waste for someone else.

Plan the trip according to what you will make use of. To have a smarter cruise, run the numbers on any add-ons with free cruise activities passengers skip too often before handing over the extra money.